Bowling ball maintenance device

Abstract

A bowling ball maintenance device performs a de-oiling process on bowling balls having porous surfaces. The maintenance device may comprise a container sized to store at least one bowling ball within the container and structured to receive the bowling ball. A heating element is structured to warm an internal environment of the container at least to a level at which oil that may have accumulated in the pores of the ball begins to flow out of the pores. Embodiments also include a ball support cup within the container that is structured to contain the oil that has flowed out of the pores of the ball. Depending on the embodiment, the ball support cup may include three or more ball support extensions structured to support the ball in a stationary position over a height of the walls or edges of the ball support cup during operation of the maintenance device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A bowling ball maintenance device for performing a de-oiling process on a bowling ball, the maintenance device comprising:
 a generally sealable container sized to store at least one bowling ball within the container and structured to receive the bowling ball, the bowling ball including a plurality of pores formed on a shell; 
 a heating element structured to warm an internal environment of the container between about 100° F. to 160° F. at which oil that may have accumulated in the pores of the ball begins to flow out of the pores; and 
 a ball support cup placeable within the container and having a generally concave center portion and walls or edges structured to contain the oil that has flowed out of the pores of the ball, the ball support cup including three or more ball support extensions structured to support the ball in a stationary position over a height of the walls or edges of the ball support cup during operation of the maintenance device. 
 
     
     
       2. The bowling ball maintenance device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an air circulation device structured to move heated air within the container and around the bowling ball. 
 
     
     
       3. The bowling ball maintenance device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a user interface on an outside of the container and structured to receive input from an operator of the maintenance device. 
 
     
     
       4. The bowling ball maintenance device of  claim 3  in which the user interface comprises a timer control. 
     
     
       5. The bowling ball maintenance device of  claim 4  in which the user interface further comprises a temperature control. 
     
     
       6. The bowling ball maintenance device of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a processor coupled to the user interface and structured to control one or more operations of the maintenance device based on input received through the user interface. 
 
     
     
       7. The bowling ball maintenance device of  claim 6 , further comprising a memory coupled to the processor and structured to hold data for one or more pre-programmed processes of maintenance device operation. 
     
     
       8. The bowling ball maintenance device of  claim 7  in which at least one of the pre-programmed processes, when implemented, causes the maintenance device to warm the internal environment of the container to a first temperature for at least a first time duration. 
     
     
       9. The bowling ball maintenance device of  claim 8  in which the at least one of the pre-programmed processes, when implemented, further causes the maintenance device to change the internal environment of the container to a second temperature for a second duration immediately after having warmed the internal environment to first temperature for at least the first time duration. 
     
     
       10. The bowling ball maintenance device of  claim 9  in which the second temperature is higher than the first temperature. 
     
     
       11. The bowling ball maintenance device of  claim 9  in which the second temperature is lower than the first temperature. 
     
     
       12. The bowling ball maintenance device of  claim 1  in which the heating element is structured to warm an internal environment of the container between about 120° F. to 140° F.